Bridge



Patented Oct. 13, 1936 UNlTED STATES BRIDGE Joseph B. Strauss, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 5, 1931, Serial No. 542,328

9 Claims.

This invention relates tobridges and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description. The invention has as a further object to provide a bridge having an inverted arch. The invention has as a further object to provide a bridge having an inverted arch made up of a stiffening truss and a catenary cable located below said truss and connected thereto. The invention has further objects which are more particularly pointed out in the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of bridge embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 shows one construction for connecting the vertical members with the cable.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

In the construction shown the bridge consists of an inverted arch made up of a horizontal stiffening truss I with a catenary cable 2 below the truss and connected with the ends of the truss. The ends of the truss are mounted upon the supports 3 and 4. A series of vertical members 5 extend downwardly from the stiffening truss l to the cable 2, which vertical members transmit their load to the cable. The vertical components from the cable are resisted by the end supports 3 and 4 and the horizontal components by the stiffening truss I. The ends 1 and 8 of the cable 2 are anchored beyond the end supports, as shown at 9 and I0. There will be two or more of the horizontal trusses spaced apart and a catenary cable 2 for each horizontal truss. It will thus be seen that the horizontal trusses act to resist the horizontal components of the cables and distortions of the cables due to load variations, and also serve to support the floor system H of the bridge.

The vertical members 5 may be connected with the catenary cable in any desired manner. I have shown in Figure 2 one form of this connection, wherein the catenary cable 2, at the point where each vertical member 6 is connected therewith, is provided with a sleeve I2 having at the ends the collars l3 and M. The vertical members are provided with the attaching members l5 into which the sleeves I2 are received. This forms a convenient and reliable connection between the vertical members 5 and the cable 2.

I claim:

1. A bridge consisting of an inverted arch supported on end supports, said arch comprising a horizontal stiffening truss and a catenary cable below such truss, and forming a part of said.

bridge, said cable being anchored independently of said truss, and vertical members extending downwardly from the stiffening truss to the cable.

2. A bridge consisting of an inverted arch supported on end supports, said arch comprising a horizontal stiffening truss and a catenary cable below such truss, and forming a part of said bridge, said cable being anchored independently of said truss, and connections at intervals between the stiffening truss and the cable for transmitting loads to the cable.

3. A bridge comprising a horizontal truss, end supports therefor, a catenary cable below the truss and extending between the ends of said horizontal truss, said cable. connected to fixed anchors separate from and independent of said truss, vertical members extending from the truss to the cable and supported thereon, the horizontal truss acting to resist the horizontal components of the cable and the distortions of the cable due to load variations.

4. A bridge comprising a horizontal truss, end supports therefor, a catenary cable below the truss and extending between the ends of said horizontal truss and forming a part of said bridge, said cable being anchored independently of the truss, vertical members extending from the truss to the cable and supported thereon, the horizontal truss acting to resist the horizontal components of the cable and the distortions of the cable due to load variations, and also serving to support the floor system of the span.

PATENT- OFF-ICE 5. A bridge consisting of an inverted arch comprising horizontal stiffening trusses, catenary cables below said stiffening trusses, vertical members extending downwardly from the, stiffening trusses and connected with the cables, and means for anchoring the cables beyond the end supports at points separate therefrom.

6. A bridge consisting of an inverted arch comprising horizontal stiffening trusses, catenary cables below said stiffening trusses and forming a part of said bridge, said cables being anchored independently of said trusses, vertical members extending downwardly from the stiffening trusses and connected with the cables, sleeves on said cables at the points where the vertical members are connected thereto, and connecting members on the vertical members into which said sleeves are received.

7. A bridge comprising a catenary cable, supports from which it is suspended, the catenary cable extending beyond said supports, fixed anchors for the ends of said catenary cable, and a truss mounted on said supports, said fixed anchor arated supports from which it is suspended, a

truss mounted on said supports, the catenary cable extending beyond said supports and forming a part of said bridge, fixed anchors for the ends of said catenary cable which anchor said cable independently of said truss and a series of separated vertical membersbetween the truss and the catenary cable and which maintain the cable as a catenary cable under all the various loads.

on the truss, said catenary cable being below said 7 truss. V

9. A bridge comprising a catenary cable, separated supports from which it is suspended, fixed anchors for the ends of said catenary cable, a 6

truss above said catenary cable and mounted on said supports, said anchors anchoring said cable independently of said truss, a series of separated vertical members connected with said truss and extending ,to the catenary cable-and connected 10 therewith, said vertical members having a sliding connection with said catenary cable.

: JOSEPH B. STRAUSS. 

